On Memorial Day we tried a service project called “Dorcas Day” to offer clothes at no cost to those in need in our community. Barton worked with the young people and several volunteers to conduct a clothing drive and organize the clothes for the event. I’m happy to report that it was a success. Over fifty individuals in need took advantage of the effort, and we handed out hundreds of garments. Everybody was handed some information about the church.

This was our first attempt, so far as I know, at a more proactive approach to benevolence. In the past we waited for someone to approach us with a need and then responded accordingly. The problem with this is that we never felt we were helping those who were really needy–just those bold enough to ask us for something. A different crowd showed up on Monday for Dorcas Day. We saw three families who had just lost their homes in a fire, a number of families living on low incomes, and older people trying to scrape by on Social Security. I doubt that many of these would have asked us for help, but they came when help was offered.

Look for more proactive benevolent works in the future. We must constantly look for opportunities to “do good” (Gal. 6:10).